Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-12

under cover OF the oAiA"A 'AaHAN''
darkness, had swiftly and silently withdrawn
his force from the battle field of Cross Keys
and joined jackson. The dawn of the 9th
found the Confederate army united and ready
for battle opposite Port Republic.
Jackson thought quickly and acted almost
as rapidly. He determined to hurry across
the river, burn the bridge behind him, SO
Fremont could not cross, then attack Shields
and have it out with him. This was similar
to Jackson's tactics throughout the cam
paign.
The plan was executed as designed.
Col Tyler led Shields advance. He had
only 5000 men, however, to throw against
Jackson's whole army. The "Stonewall brig
ade" met them first, flying beneath the Con-
lederate the blue flag of Virginia. The brig
age was commanded by Gen. Winder, and
Jackson himself was with it.
They opened lively fire. but Col Tyler's
heavy artillery was too much for even the
StonewalI brigade. Winder was forced back.
Col. Tyler'S men speedily occupied the ground
it Fad left. The Federal left held wooded
height, and from that point deadly artillery
fire poured. jackson ordered the Louisiana
troops under Gen. Taylor to take it. Taylor
pointed to the guns with his sword and called
10 his men: 'LouisianianS, can you take that
batteryp With a shout and a cheer they
charged over tho rough ground and up
through the woods 1t was desperate and
bloody charge, and it was successful. The
Federal guns were captured and turned upon
those who had lately manned them. Taylor
was In turn forced back with his Confeder-
ates But Winder had rallied his men again.
He poured a tremendous artillery fire into
Ia "a II
Union troops began to waver. The wavering
became retreat. The artillery horses had
been killed and all Tyler's guns but one had
to be left on the field.
The battle of Port Republic was ended, and
Shields had been defeated.
Just as the Federal retreat began Fremont
appeared with his army on the opposite bank
of tho river. But it was too late The bridge
had been destroyed.
After the battle of Port Republic, June 0,
Jackson escaped up the valley. He dis
patched to Lee that day:
Through Gods blessing the enemy was this day
routed with the loss of six pieces of his artillery.
T. ]. JACKSON,
Major General Commanding.
BY June Is he was on his way to Join Lee
at Richmond.
After Port Republic Fremont and Shields
fingered in the valley while. The four
principal battles of the Shenandoah valley
campaign were Winchester otherwise Kerns-
town, Mcdowell, Cross Keys and Port Re
public.
The campaign Of the Shenandoah valley of
1862 began March IL with Jackson's move
ment from Winchester to Staunton. 1t end
ell June Q with the battle of Port Republic.
IL baI all Ia T,Ssn
before Richmond. The breach which had al
ready been widening between Gen. Mcclellan
and Secretary OF War Stanton was by this
campaign made irreparable. When Mellow
ellis lnen were ordered to the Shenandoah,
inter having been solemnly promised to Nc
Clellan, the latter gave over hope of ever
getting from Washington the re-enforcements
he needed, though he still continued to ask
for them. AS to what the campaign directly
effected, Cooke, in his life of Jackson, says:
In three months jackson had marched
COO miles, fought four pitched battles, seven
minor engagements and daily skirmishes; had
defeated four armies, captured 1000 prison
ers, seven pieces Of artillery, 10000 stand of
arms and very great amount OF stores, in
flicting on bis adversary known loss of 2, 900
men. with loss on his own part compar-
atively small"
How it was possible for him to thus make
successful raid down the whole length of the
Shenandoah valley and back again, with
armies ON three sides OF him, containing alto
gether more than three times as many men as
his own, is one Of the mysteries of war that
has never been solved. 1t was all dash,
sweep, blow, aud then up and away again:
Rein up your hot horses and call in your men,
The trumpet sounds Rally to coors again"
Some saddles are empty, some comrades are
slain.
And some noble horses lie stark on the plain
But wars chance game. boys, and weeping is
vain